Translation guide
The quality of being unpleasantly rough, severe, or cruel. This guide covers how to express harshness in Japanese across different contexts: physical roughness, severe criticism, strict treatment, and unpleasant sensory experiences.
Describing rules, discipline, punishment, or conditions that are very strict, severe, or unforgiving.
The most common and versatile noun for 'harshness' in the sense of strictness, severity, or rigor. Used for rules, discipline, criticism, and conditions.
The harshness of his coaching is famous.
I was surprised by the harshness of this school's rules.
Emphasizes extreme harshness, cruelty, or severity, often of conditions or treatment. Stronger than 厳しさ.
The harshness of the desert environment is unimaginable.
Literary term for intense harshness or severity, often used for criticism, attacks, or conditions.
The writer fell silent at the harshness of the criticism.
Describing something physically rough to the touch, or a voice that is grating or unpleasant.
Refers to physical roughness or coarseness of a surface, texture, or granularity. Also used for rough quality of work or sound.
I don't like the harshness (roughness) of this paper.
The harshness of his voice is grating.
Describes a gritty, rough texture, like sandpaper. Often used for skin or surfaces.
This cream removes the harshness (roughness) of the skin.
Literally 'something hard on the ears', used for harsh or unpleasant sounds.
Describing language that is severe, cutting, or unkind.
Specifically refers to harshness of criticism or scolding. Implies sharp, unsparing words.
She burst into tears at the harshness of his words.
Describes biting, acerbic harshness in remarks or criticism. Often used for sarcasm or sharp wit.
You can feel the harshness in his jokes.
Literally 'poison tongue', refers to harsh, malicious, or vitriolic speech. Often used for someone known for sharp criticism.
Describing something visually glaring or unpleasantly intense, or weather that is severe.
厳しさ is the general term for strictness or severity, and can be used in many contexts. 過酷さ implies extreme, often cruel harshness, and is used for conditions like weather, labor, or punishment that are almost unbearable.
Endure the harshness of the training.
Harsh working conditions.
The English loanword ハーシュネス is not commonly used in Japanese. Use the native terms above instead.
The harshness of that music was unbearable.
あの評論家の毒舌は有名だ。
That critic's harshness (vitriol) is famous.
I was overwhelmed by the harshness (intensity) of the colors in that painting.